CALTANISSETTA. As part of the “At the school of Archaeology” project, the IG classes of the Liceo Scientifico “A. Volta” and I AL and I CL of the IISS “L. Russo”, on Monday 20 and Tuesday 21 May, visited the archaeological site of Gibil Gabib, where an indigenous Greek settlement was brought to light.
During the visit, the students carried out a survey activity (surface reconnaissance), thus becoming archaeologists for a day.
The artefacts discovered and collected by the students, who found truly interesting materials (the upper part of a terracotta statuette, numerous ceramic fragments of indigenous production, some with geometric decoration painted in brown or red, fragments of black-painted ceramic, a fragment of bronze foil), were taken to the site’s antiquarium where Simona Modeo, professor in charge of the project, and Stefania D’Angelo, president of the Nisse branch of SiciliAntica, explained to each of them what they had found.
The most interesting and significant finds will be taken to the Archaeological Museum of Caltanissetta. The visit to Gibil Gabib is the last phase of the project which will end with a multimedia presentation of an archaeological site in central Sicily by the students.
“At the school of Archaeology: we know and protect the cultural heritage of central Sicily” is a cultural heritage education project that the Nisse branch of SiciliAntica has been carrying out for three years with the aim of making the new generations aware of the cultural heritage, and archaeological in particular, of the territory in which they live so that they can learn to love it and, one day, to protect it and enhance it as it deserves.
Today, unfortunately, the site of Gibil Gabib, like most of the archaeological sites in central Sicily, is closed and cannot be used except on request and, despite the complaints of many associations, the situation will certainly not change immediately. Therefore it is to be hoped that in the future it will be our young people who will give a future to the testimonies of our past.
The initiative was made possible thanks to the precious support of the school directors, Maria Rita Basta and Vito Parisi, and of all the teachers of both schools, in particular Laura Abbaleo, Claudia D’Angelo, Luigi Barbera.
The project, carried out by SiciliAntica in collaboration with the Carabinieri of the TPC Unit of Palermo, with the Archaeological Park of Gela, and with the Gibil Habib Neighborhood Committee, participating in the IX edition of the National “Person and Community” Award, was chosen by the Scientific Committee for the award, on 18 April 2023, of the “Reporting a Good Example” award.
